There are two trainers saddling three horses each. A horse trying to win for the first time. An early favorite whose training was interrupted. Another attempting to overcome irascible behavior.

The 20-horse field for Saturday's Kentucky Derby lacks a dominant runner. The winter prep races did nothing to establish a clear favorite.

Classic Empire is the 4-1 pre-race choice. Two horses, Always Dreaming and McCraken, are the co-second choices at 5-1. Toss in the threat of rain early in the day and it all makes for a most unpredictable Derby.

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THE RACE

++ It takes a special kind of horse to qualify for the Kentucky Derby. One of Todd Pletcher’s 5 horses in this year’s field has gone through more than the rest in order to get to Churchill Downs.

++ Hall of Fame jockey Victor Espinoza knows his way around the winner's circle.

++ Only 12 horses have ever won the Triple Crown – the designation for champions of the Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes. And it’s becoming even more rare, with American Pharaoh’s 2015 achievement the first Crown in nearly four decades. CLICK HERE to see the list

++ No women will ride in Saturday's Kentucky Derby. That isn't unusual. Old race result charts (which are like box scores) show that since 1970, when Diane Crump became the first woman to start the Derby, only five other women have passed through the starting gate -- alongside 301 men. Since 2004, only one woman, Rosie Napravnik, has started any Triple Crown race -- and Napravnik retired three years ago. CLICK HERE for more